What’s your Lee Enfield Holy Grail?

[lee_enfield223]

what on earth is a Ainsley Sniper ??????????????????????? I have searched the internet and found nothing with your spelling

[mudgee]

My holy grail would be an Ainsley Sniper rifle

Sorry that was a spelling mistake it should have said Ainley Rifle or Sniper

[Alan de Enfield]

Sorry that was a spelling mistake it should have said Ainley Rifle or Sniper

This one ?

Ainley Rifle was a P14 with a sportered forend, a mini Bren style drum sight and chambered in .276 and abandoned by 1940,

[mudgee]

This one ?

Ainley Rifle was a P14 with a sportered forend, a mini Bren style drum sight and chambered in .276 and abandoned by 1940,

I believe that there was only 6 made as trials rifles, I have not been able to find out how they performed in the trials. always looking for more information.

[Res]

After four years I have finally sourced my holy grail, problem is my packrat mentality is now thinking of others to lust after

1960 No9 .22 trainer

Attachment 55363
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[brnom2]

I have, for some years searched for a good representative No4 T, as my "holy grail"- to no avail. After wasting my time chasing leads and looking into a series of supposed T's for sale here in OZ that all turned out to be fakes or build-ups with little merit (especially at the prices being asked) I must admit I became some dejected with the whole thing. It started me thinking though, and came to realize that in reality I already had my holy grail Enfield. Some years ago my father gave me his ex fullbore rifle. Its a 1942 Matby No4 Mk1. Its history of being my fathers fullbore rifle (he was a considered a good shot on the West Oz fullbore comp scene in the late 60's/pre changeover to Omark days) makes it for me. To purists it probably would be considered a bit of a pig, as some items would be considered more "wrong" than right (most work on it was done in late 60's, not by me) Was re-barrelled with a Sportco 5 groove barrel in 68. The wood (lovely honey coloured Beach) has been done in some sort of clear finish. It has at some point picked up a Savage marked magazine. It is centre bedded (please don't flame me, im not starting that argument again, just stating what is) Is missing the bolt release plunger and was missing butt sling swivel. It came with PH5 rear sight, PH trigger guard sling swivel and Central adjustable front blade. I changed the PH5 for a Mk1 backsight and fitted standard blade and rear sling swivel and webbing sling. I use it for service rifle shooting and think of my father and everything he has taught me each and every time I use it. I have several other No4's and a P14, all of which would probably all be considered in better condition or more orig than my Matby, but I couldn't ask for a finer Lee Enfield.

[bladeartist]

My Lee Enfield Holy Grail would have to be the No. 4, Mk 1 that I sporterized. Manufactured in 1943, it has a brass butt plate and ladder rear sight. These are the modifications I made to it:
1. Removed brass butt plate and replaced it with a cushioned rubber recoil pad.
2. Removed beech wood fore-arm furniture and rear top barrel cover and added black fore-end with rounded off end.
3. Bedded the barrel.
4. Sanded out dings in beech wood stock and refinished it with clear varnish.
5. Made a cheek-rest as close to original sniper rifle cheek rest as possible (out of a rolling pin) and added it to the stock. Then added a laced rubber cheek cushion sleeve with 5 round cartridge carrier and weather flap.
6. Added a front sight cover.
7. Replaced mil-spec 10 rd. magazine with a new aftermarket hunting-legal five round magazine.
8. Added weaver scope rings and 10X32 Burris scope with flip-up lens covers.

I now have a great looking British .303 sniper rifle.

[limpetmine]

IIRC yours is a pretty late serial number. You might do some internet trolling for data.

After four years I have finally sourced my holy grail, problem is my packrat mentality is now thinking of others to lust after

1960 No9 .22 trainer

Attachment 55363
Attachment 55364

[Res]

IIRC yours is a pretty late serial number. You might do some internet trolling for data.

No need, it came with all the info-made for NZ cadets and served with one cadet group (I know what one but I'm 9000km from my records right now) until sold as surplus to the guy I bought it off.
It's very frustrating that I'm going to have to wait until Easter to fire it.

[Doctor1]

I thought mine was the HT sniper, then the No4T, then the L39A1, Then the No1, then the L42A1, then the WW1 sniper, then the WW1 with Lattey sights.
Then it hit me the Holy Grail is the one you haven't got, and I will never have all the Enfields, but that is the fun of collecting, it is the hunt for the next one.
Happy hunting.